Adjustable wire length stylet handle

Abstract

A stylet-lead assembly includes a therapy delivery element and a stylet. The therapy delivery element includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen having a lumen length extending from the proximal end to almost the distal end. The stylet includes a stylet handle including a locking insert having a first channel adapted to receive a proximal end of a stylet wire. A portion of the stylet wire extending beyond a proximal end of the locking insert includes at least one bend. The stylet handle has an opening at a distal end adapted to compressively engage the proximal end of the stylet wire to the locking insert, such that an exposed portion of the stylet wire measured from a distal end of the stylet wire to a distal end of the locking insert generally comprises the lumen length.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stylet-lead assembly comprising:
 a therapy delivery element comprising a proximal end with a plurality of electrical contacts adapted to electrically couple with an implantable pulse generator, a distal end with a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the electrical contacts, and a lumen having a lumen length extending from the proximal end to almost the distal end; 
 a stylet wire having a distal end and a proximal portion including a proximal, terminal end; 
 a locking insert having a first channel adapted to receive the proximal portion of the stylet wire, wherein an excess portion of the proximal portion of the stylet wire extending beyond a proximal end of the locking insert includes at least one bend; and 
 a stylet handle having an opening at a first end adapted to compressively engage the proximal portion of the stylet wire to the locking insert to lock the stylet wire with respect to the stylet handle, such that an exposed length of an exposed portion of the stylet wire extending distally from the stylet handle is generally equal to the lumen length, wherein:
 the proximal, terminal end of the stylet wire is disposed within the stylet handle; and 
 with the proximal portion of the stylet wire compressively engaged with the locking insert, the exposed length of the stylet wire is fixed. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The stylet-lead assembly of  claim 1 , comprising a second channel in the locking insert adapted to receive the excess portion of the stylet wire extending beyond the proximal end of the locking insert. 
     
     
       3. The stylet-lead assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first channel is generally parallel to the second channel. 
     
     
       4. The stylet-lead assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one bend of the excess portion of the stylet wire includes a bend of about 180 degrees between the first channel and the second channel. 
     
     
       5. The stylet-lead assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second channel is formed in an outer surface of the locking insert. 
     
     
       6. The stylet-lead assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first channel is disposed between a pair of arms adapted to flex inwardly to compressively engage the proximal portion of the stylet wire. 
     
     
       7. The stylet-lead assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the pair of arms includes a cross-sectional area greater than a cross-sectional area of the opening in the stylet handle. 
     
     
       8. The stylet-lead assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is at a proximal end of the stylet handle, the stylet handle including a handle lumen extending from a distal end of the stylet handle to the opening at the proximal end of the stylet handle, the proximal portion of the stylet wire extending through the handle lumen with the bend located in the opening, wherein the exposed length of the stylet wire is measured from the distal end of the stylet wire to the distal end of the stylet handle. 
     
     
       9. A stylet-lead assembly comprising:
 a therapy delivery element comprising a proximal end with a plurality of electrical contacts adapted to electrically couple with an implantable pulse generator, a distal end with a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the electrical contacts, and a lumen having a lumen length extending from the proximal end to almost the distal end; 
 a stylet wire having a distal end and a proximal portion including a proximal, terminal end; 
 a locking insert having a first channel adapted to receive the proximal portion of the stylet wire, wherein an excess portion of the proximal portion of the stylet wire extending beyond a proximal end of the locking insert includes at least one bend; and 
 a stylet handle having a handle lumen extending from a distal end to an opening at a proximal end, the proximal portion of the stylet wire extending through the handle lumen with the bend located in the opening, the opening adapted to compressively engage the stylet wire to the locking insert to lock the stylet wire with respect to the stylet handle, such that an exposed length of an exposed portion of the stylet wire measured from the distal end of the stylet wire to the distal end of the stylet handle is generally equal to the lumen length, wherein:
 the proximal, terminal end of the stylet wire is disposed within the stylet handle; and 
 
 with the proximal portion of the stylet wire compressively engaged with the locking insert, the exposed length of the stylet wire is fixed. 
 
     
     
       10. The stylet-lead assembly of  claim 9 , comprising a second channel in the locking insert adapted to receive the excess portion of the stylet wire extending beyond the proximal end of the locking insert. 
     
     
       11. The stylet-lead assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first channel is generally parallel to the second channel. 
     
     
       12. The stylet-lead assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one bend of the proximal portion of the stylet wire includes a bend of about 180 degrees between the first channel and the second channel. 
     
     
       13. The stylet-lead assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first channel is disposed between a pair of arms adapted to flex inwardly to compressively engage the proximal portion of the stylet wire. 
     
     
       14. A neurostimulation system comprising:
 an implantable pulse generator; 
 a therapy delivery element comprising a proximal end with a plurality of electrical contacts adapted to electrically couple with the implantable pulse generator, a distal end with a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the electrical contacts, and a lumen having a lumen length extending from the proximal end to almost the distal end; 
 a stylet wire having a distal end and a proximal portion including a proximal, terminal end; 
 a locking insert having a first channel adapted to receive the proximal portion of the stylet wire, wherein an excess portion of the proximal portion of the stylet wire extending beyond a proximal end of the locking insert includes at least one bend; and 
 a stylet handle having an opening at a first end adapted to compressively engage the proximal portion of the stylet wire to the locking insert to lock the stylet wire with respect to the stylet handle, such that an exposed length of an exposed portion of the stylet wire extending distally from the stylet handle is generally equal to the lumen length, wherein:
 the proximal, terminal end of the stylet wire is disposed within the stylet handle; and 
 with the proximal portion of the stylet wire compressively engaged with the locking insert, the exposed length of the stylet wire is fixed. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The neurostimulation system of  claim 14 , wherein the opening is at a proximal end of the stylet handle, the stylet handle including a handle lumen extending from a distal end of the stylet handle to the opening at the proximal end of the stylet handle, the proximal portion of the stylet wire extending through the handle lumen with the bend located in the opening, wherein the exposed length of the stylet wire is measured from the distal end of the stylet wire to the distal end of the stylet handle. 
     
     
       16. The neurostimulation system of  claim 14 , wherein the locking insert includes a second channel configured to receive the excess portion of the stylet wire extending beyond the proximal end of the locking insert. 
     
     
       17. A neurostimulation system comprising:
 an implantable pulse generator; 
 a therapy delivery element comprising a proximal end with a plurality of electrical contacts adapted to electrically couple with the implantable pulse generator, a distal end with a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the electrical contacts, and a lumen having a lumen length extending from the proximal end to almost the distal end; 
 a stylet wire having a distal end and a proximal portion including a proximal, terminal end; 
 a locking insert having a first channel adapted to receive the proximal portion of the stylet wire, wherein an excess portion of the proximal portion of the stylet wire extending beyond a proximal end of the locking insert includes at least one bend; and 
 a stylet handle having a handle lumen extending from a distal end to an opening at a proximal end, the proximal portion of the stylet wire extending through the handle lumen with the bend located in the opening, the opening adapted to compressively engage the stylet wire to the locking insert to lock the stylet wire with respect to the stylet handle, such that an exposed length of an exposed portion of the stylet wire measured from the distal end of the stylet wire to the distal end of the stylet handle is generally equal to the lumen length, wherein:
 the proximal, terminal end of the stylet wire is disposed within the stylet handle; and 
 with the proximal portion of the stylet wire compressively engaged with the locking insert, the exposed length of the stylet wire is fixed. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The neurostimulation system of  claim 17 , wherein the first channel is disposed between a pair of arms adapted to flex inwardly to compressively engage the proximal portion of the stylet wire.